Deshaun Watson’s attorney calls allegations of sexual misconduct ‘completely false’

Deshaun Watson's attorney issued a lengthy statement Tuesday defending his client against allegations of sexual misconduct and assault that have been levied against him by 14 women in civil lawsuits over the past week.

Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said in the statement that the attorney representing the 14 women, Tony Buzbee, has "orchestrated a circus-like atmosphere" by using social media to publicize the lawsuits and has since refused to privately disclose the identities of the women, which Hardin said is preventing his team from fully investigating the claims.

Hardin also said that they have been able to independently identify one of the women, and have determined, according to Hardin, that she attempted to "blackmail" Watson in January.

"In January of this year, a woman attempted to blackmail Deshaun by demanding $30,000 in exchange for her 'indefinite silence' about what she stated was a consensual encounter," Hardin said in the statement.

"This calls into question the legitimacy of the other cases as well," Hardin said.

Deshaun Watson is facing separate civil suits from multiple women alleging sexual misconduct. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

Hardin also said in the statement that he believes "any allegation that Deshaun forced a woman to commit a sexual act is completely false."

"Again, we are taking the allegations very seriously and we ask only that people not rush to judgment, that people not be unduly influenced by opposing counsel’s antics, and that they let fundamental fairness to both sides rule the day," Hardin said.

Watson, 25, broadly denied wrongdoing in a statement released last week, before the first lawsuit was publicly available. 

Watson has not been charged with a crime, or suspended by the NFL. The league confirmed last week that it is investigating the matter under the auspices of its personal conduct policy.

Buzbee said in a news conference last week that his firm's next step would be to submit information and evidence to Houston police and the Harris County District Attorney's Office – the first steps toward potential criminal charges. Buzbee did not immediately reply to an email inquiry Tuesday about whether that had occurred.

Dane Schiller, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office, said in a statement Monday that "it would be inappropriate for a District Attorney’s Office to comment any way on a civil lawsuit, and we refrain from publicly discussing allegations in any matter until and if a criminal charge is filed."

"We do this out of fairness to all," Schiller continued.

Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

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